A method is described for storing data on a target track of a recordable medium in a storage device via a magnetic write head therein. The storage device has an operating parameter having an operational range with extreme at which the writing of data to said device is prohibited. A first threshold within said range is defined and proximate said first extreme and delimits a first operational subrange. The method including the steps of: monitoring said operating parameter; and determining whether the monitored parameter lies within said first subrange and if so, performing a first predetermined operation to compensate for deleterious effects on data storage caused thereby.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method for storing data on a target track of a recordable medium in a storage device via a magnetic write head therein, said storage device having an operating parameter falling within an operational range having a first extreme at which the writing of data to said device is prohibited, and wherein a first threshold within said range is defined and proximate said first extreme and delimiting a first operational subrange, comprising the steps of: monitoring said operating parameter; and determining whether the monitored parameter lies within said first subrange and if so, performing a first predetermined operation to compensate for deleterious effects on data storage caused thereby, wherein said first predetermined operation includes the steps of: writing data to said storage device; verifying the correctness of said data written on said storage device; and completing the data storing operation if said data are correctly saved in said storage device; and wherein said first predetermined operation further includes the following steps if said data are not correctly saved in said storage device: preparing said storage device for writing data; rewriting data to said storage device; verifying the correctness of said rewritten data; and completing the data storing operation if said data are correctly resaved in said storage device.
2. A method for storing data as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first predetermined operation further includes the following steps if said data are not correctly resaved in said storage device: writing data to a spare space on said storage device; verifying the correctness of said data written in the spare space; and returning error status if said data are not correctly saved in said storage device or completing the data storing operation if said data are correctly saved in said storage device.
3. A method for storing data as recited in claim 1 , wherein said preparing said storage device for writing data includes increasing write current to a magnetic head of said storage device.
4. A method for storing data as recited in claim 1 , wherein said preparing said storage device for writing data includes erasing preexisting data with fractional track offsets.
5. A method for storing data as recited in claim 4 , wherein said operating parameter is a range of ambient temperatures and said first threshold is a predetermined temperature within said range, and said first threshold temperature is approximately 15 C.
6. A method for storing data on a target track of a recordable medium in a storage device via a magnetic write head therein, said storage device having an operating parameter falling within an operational range having a first extreme at which the writing of data to said device is prohibited, and wherein a first threshold within said range is defined and proximate said first extreme and delimiting a first operational subrange, comprising the steps of: monitoring said operating parameter; and determining whether the monitored parameter lies within said first subrange and if so, performing a first predetermined operation to compensate for deleterious effects on data storage caused thereby; wherein said first predetermined operation includes the steps of: retrieving data in tracks adjacent to the target track; preparing said write head and writing data to the target track of said storage device; verifying the correctness of said data written on the target track, and further including the following steps if said data are not correctly stored on the target track: adjusting said write head to its normal setting; writing the data to the target track; and verifying the correctness of the data written on the target track and returning error status if the data are not correctly saved; verifying the correctness of the data in the adjacent tracks, and rewriting the data to the adjacent tracks if they are not correctly saved and verifying the correctness of the data in the adjacent tracks after being rewritten; and returning error status if data in the adjacent tracks are not correctly saved, otherwise returning a completion status if data in the adjacent tracks are correctly stored.
7. A method for storing data as recited in claim 6 , wherein said preparing said write head includes reducing write current to said head from its normal setting.
8. A method for storing data as recited in claim 6 , wherein said adjusting said write head to its normal setting includes increasing write current to said head to its normal setting.
9. A method for storing data as recited in claim 6 , wherein said preparing said write head includes tightening servo write-inhibit criterion.
10. A method for storing data as recited in claim 6 , wherein said adjusting said write head to its normal setting includes adjusting servo write-inhibit criterion to its normal setting.
11. A method for storing data as recited in claim 6 , wherein said operating parameter is a range of ambient temperatures and said first threshold is a predetermined temperature within said range, and said first threshold temperature is approximately 60 C.
12. A method for storing data on a target track of a recordable medium in a storage device via a magnetic write head therein, said storage device having an operating parameter falling within an operational range having a first extreme at which the writing of data to said device is prohibited, and wherein a first threshold within said range is defined and proximate said first extreme and delimiting a first operational subrange, comprising the steps of: monitoring said operating parameter; and determining whether the monitored parameter lies within said first subrange and if so, performing a first predetermined operation to compensate for deleterious effects on data storage caused thereby; wherein said first predetermined operation comprises the steps of: writing data to said storage device; verifying the correctness of said data written on said storage device; and completing the data storing operation if said data are correctly saved in said storage device; and wherein said operating parameter is a range of ambient temperatures and said first threshold is a predetermined temperature within said range, and wherein said second predetermined operation includes the steps of: retrieving data in tracks adjacent to the target track; preparing said write head and writing data to the target track of said storage device; verifying the correctness of said data written on the target track, and further including the following steps if said data are not correctly stored on the target track: adjusting said write head to its normal setting; writing the data to the target track; and verifying the correctness of the data written on the target track and returning error status if the data are not correctly saved; verifying the correctness of the data in the adjacent tracks, and rewriting the data to the adjacent tracks if they are not correctly saved and verifying the correctness of the data in the adjacent tracks after being rewritten; and returning error status if data in the adjacent tracks are not correctly saved, otherwise returning a completion status if data in the adjacent tracks are correctly stored.
13. A method for storing data as recited in claim 12 , wherein said first threshold temperature is approximately 60 C.
14. A computer program product embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform method steps for storing data on a target track of a recordable medium in a storage device via a magnetic write head therein, said storage device having an operating parameter having an operational range with a first extreme at which the writing of data to said storage device is prohibited, and wherein a first threshold within said range is defined and proximate said first extreme and delimiting a first operational subrange, said product being operative to execute a method comprising the steps of: monitoring said operating parameter; and determining whether the monitored parameter lies within said first subrange and if so, performing a first predetermined operation to compensate for deleterious effects on data storage caused thereby; wherein said first predetermined operation includes the steps of: writing data to said storage device; verifying the correctness of said data written on said storage device; and completing the data storing operation if said data are correctly saved in said storage device, and wherein said first predetermined operation further includes the following steps if said data are not correctly saved in said storage device: preparing said storage device for writing data; rewriting data to said storage device; verifying the correctness of said rewritten data; and completing the data storing operation if said data are correctly resaved in said storage device.
15. A computer program product as recited in 14 wherein said first predetermined operation further includes the following steps if said data are not correctly resaved in said storage device: writing data to a spare space on said storage device; verifying the correctness of said data written in the spare space; and returning error status if the data are not correctly resaved in said storage device or completing the data storing operation if said data are correctly saved in device.
16. A computer program product as recited in claim 14 wherein said preparing said storage device for writing data includes increasing write current to a magnetic head of said storage device.
17. A computer program product as recited in claim 14 wherein said preparing said storage for writing data includes erasing preexisting data with fractional track offsets.
18. A computer program product as recited in claim 17 wherein said operating parameter is a range of ambient temperatures and said first threshold is a predetermined temperature within said range, and said first threshold temperature is approximately 15 C.
19. A computer program product embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform method steps for storing data on a target track of a recordable medium in a storage device via a magnetic write head therein, said storage device having an operating parameter having an operational range with a first extreme at which the writing of data to said storage device is prohibited, and wherein a first threshold within said range is defined and proximate said first extreme and delimiting a first operational subrange, said product being operative to execute a method comprising the steps of: monitoring said operating parameter; and determining whether the monitored parameter lies within said first subrange and if so, performing a first predetermined operation to compensate for deleterious effects on data storage caused thereby, and wherein said first predetermined operation comprises the steps of: retrieving data in tracks adjacent to the target track; preparing said write head and writing data to the target track of said storage device; verifying the correctness of said data written on the target track, and further including the following steps if said data are not correctly stored on the target track: adjusting said write head to its normal setting; writing the data to the target track; and verifying the correctness of the data written on the target track and returning error status if the data are not correctly saved; verifying the correctness of the data in the adjacent tracks, and rewriting the data to the adjacent tracks if they are not correctly saved and verifying the correctness of the data in the adjacent tracks after being rewritten; and returning error status if data i the adjacent tracks are not correctly saved, otherwise returning a completion status if data in the adjacent tracks are correctly stored.
20. A computer program product as recited in claim 19 , wherein said preparing said write head includes reducing write current to said head from its normal setting.
21. A computer program product as recited in claim 19 , wherein said adjusting said write head to its normal setting includes increasing write current to said head to its normal setting.
22. A computer program product as recited in claim 19 , wherein said preparing said write head includes tightening servo write-inhibit criterion.
23. A computer program product as recited in claim 19 , wherein said adjusting said write head to its normal setting includes adjusting servo write-inhibit criterion to its normal setting.
24. A computer program product as recited in claim 19 , wherein said operating parameter is a range of ambient temperatures and said first threshold is a predetermined temperature within said range, and said first threshold temperature is approximately 60 C.
25. A computer program product embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform method steps for storing data on a target track of a recordable medium in a storage device via a magnetic write head therein, said storage device having an operating parameter having an operational range with a first extreme at which the writing of data to said storage device is prohibited, and wherein a first threshold within said range is defined and proximate said first extreme and delimiting a first operational subrange, said product being operative to execute a method comprising the steps of: monitoring said operating parameter; and determining whether the monitored parameter lies within said first subrange and if so, performing a first predetermined operation to compensate for deleterious effects on data storage caused thereby, wherein said operating parameter is a range of ambient temperatures and said first threshold is a predetermined temperature within said range, wherein the operating range is defined at a second extreme by a second temperature limit within said range at which writing of data to said device is prohibited, and wherein a second threshold temperature within said range is defined and proximate said second temperature limit and delimits a second operational temperature subrange, further including the steps of: determining whether the ambient temperature lies between said second subrange and if so, performing a second predetermined operation to compensate for deleterious effects on data storage caused by the ambient temperature, and wherein said second predetermined operation includes the steps of: retrieving data in a track adjacent to the target track; reducing write current to a magnetic head of said storage device from its normal setting, and writing the data to the target track of said storage device; verifying the correctness of said data written on the target track, and further including the following steps if said data are not correctly stored on the target track: adjusting write current to the head to its normal setting; writing the data to the target track; and verifying the correctness of the data written on the target track and returning error status if the data are not correctly saved; verifying the correctness of the data in the adjacent track, and rewriting the data to the adjacent track if they are not correctly saved and verifying the correctness of the data in the adjacent track after being rewritten; and returning error status if data in the adjacent track are not correctly saved, otherwise returning a completion status if data in the adjacent track are correctly stored.
26. A computer program product as recited in claim 25 wherein said first threshold temperature is approximately 60 C.
27. A disk drive system having a magnetic write head and a magnetic storage medium for storing data in a storage device, wherein said head and said storage medium are packaged in an enclosure, said system having an operating temperature range defined at one extreme by a first temperature limit at which the writing of data to said storage medium is prohibited, and a first threshold temperature within said range is defined and proximate said first temperature limit and delimits a first operational temperature subrange, comprising: a controller for interfacing with an external system and controlling operation of the disk drive system; an actuator driver electrically coupled to said controller for positioning said head and writing data to said storage medium; and a thermal sensor electrically coupled to said controller for monitoring the enclosure temperature wherein a first predetermined operation is executed to temperature compensate the storing operation, and wherein said first predetermined operation includes the steps of: writing data to said storage device; verifying the correctness of said data written on said storage device; and completing the data storing operation if said data are correctly saved in said storage device, and wherein said first predetermined operation further includes the following steps if said data are not correctly saved in said storage device: preparing said storage device for writing data; rewriting data to said storage device; verifying the correctness of said rewritten data; and completing the data storing operation if said data are correctly resaved in said storage device.
28. A disk drive system as recited in claim 27 , wherein said first predetermined operation further includes the following steps if said data are not correctly resaved in said storage device: writing data to a spare space on said storage device; verifying the correctness of said data written in the spare space; and returning error status if said data are not correctly saved in said storage device or completing the data storing operation if said data are correctly saved in said storage device.
29. A disk drive system as recited in claim 27 , wherein said preparing said storage device for writing data includes increasing write current to a magnetic head of said device.
30. A disk drive system as recited in claim 27 , wherein said preparing said storage for writing data includes erasing preexisting data with fractional track offsets.
31. A disk drive system having a magnetic write head and a magnetic storage medium for storing data in a storage device, wherein said head and said storage medium are packaged in an enclosure, said system having an operating temperature range defined at one extreme by a first temperature limit at which the writing of data to said storage medium is prohibited, and a first threshold temperature within said range is defined and proximate said first temperature limit and delimits a first operational temperature subrange, comprising: controller for interfacing with an external system and controlling operation of the disk drive system; an actuator driver electrically coupled to said controller for positioning said head and writing data to said storage medium; and a thermal sensor electrically coupled to said controller for monitoring the enclosure temperature wherein an operation including the following steps is executed to temperature compensate the storing operation: receiving the ambient temperature of said storage device; and determining whether the ambient temperature lies within said first subrange and if so, performing a first predetermined operation to compensate for deleterious effects on data storage caused by the ambient temperature, and wherein said first predetermined operation includes the steps of: retrieving data in tracks adjacent to the target track; preparing said write head and writing data to the target track of said storage device; verifying the correctness of said data written on the target track, and further including the following steps if said data are not correctly stored on the target track: adjusting said write head to its normal setting; writing the data to the target track; and verifying the correctness of the data written on the target track and returning error status if the data are not correctly saved; verifying the correctness of the data in the adjacent tracks, and rewriting the data to the adjacent tracks if they are not correctly saved and verifying the correctness of the data in the adjacent tracks after being rewritten; and returning error status if data in the adjacent tracks are not correctly saved, otherwise returning a completion status if data in the adjacent tracks are correctly stored.
32. A disk drive system as recited in claim 31 , wherein said preparing said write head includes reducing write current to said head from its normal setting.
33. A disk drive system as recited in claim 31 , wherein said adjusting said write head to its normal setting includes increasing write current to said head to its normal setting.
34. A disk drive system as recited in claim 31 , wherein said preparing said write head includes tightening servo write-inhibit criterion.
35. A disk drive system as recited in claim 31 , wherein said adjusting said write head to its normal setting includes adjusting servo write-inhibit criterion to its normal setting.
36. A disk drive system having a magnetic write head and a magnetic storage medium for storing data in a storage device, wherein said head and said storage medium are packaged in an enclosure, said system having an operating temperature range defined at one extreme by a first temperature limit at which the writing of data to said storage medium is prohibited, and a first threshold temperature within said range is defined and proximate said first temperature limit and delimits a first operational temperature subrange, comprising: a controller for interfacing with an external system and controlling operation of the disk drive system; an actuator driver electrically coupled to said controller for positioning said head and writing data to said storage medium; and a thermal sensor electrically coupled to said controller for monitoring the enclosure temperature wherein an operation including the following steps is executed to temperature compensate the storing operation: receiving the ambient temperature of said storage device; and determining whether the ambient temperature lies within said first subrange and if so, performing a first predetermined operation to compensate for deleterious effects on data storage caused by the ambient temperature, wherein the operating range is defined at a second extreme by a second temperature limit at which writing of data to said storage device is prohibited, and a first threshold temperature within said range is defined and proximate said first temperature limit and delimits a first operational temperature subrange, further including the steps of: determining whether the ambient temperature lies within said second subrange and if so, performing a second predetermined operation to compensate for deleterious effects on data storage caused by the ambient temperature, and wherein said second predetermined operation includes the steps of: retrieving data in tracks adjacent to the target track; preparing said write head and writing data to the target track of said storage device; verifying the correctness of said data written on the target track, and further including the following steps if said data are not correctly stored on the target track: adjusting said write head to its normal setting; writing the data to the target track; and verifying the correctness of the data written on the target track and returning error status if the data are not correctly saved; verifying the correctness of the data in the adjacent tracks, and rewriting the data to the adjacent tracks if they are not correctly saved and verifying the correctness of the data in the adjacent tracks after being rewritten; and returning error status if data in the adjacent tracks are not correctly saved, otherwise returning a completion status if data in the adjacent tracks are correctly stored.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
November 6, 1998
June 11, 2002
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